However, even as Apple is looking to improve its native Maps application on a continuing basis, Google is looking to offers users a seasoned alternative -- Google Maps. The refreshed Google Maps app for iOS has all the goodies (and more) that users loved before Apple decided to give the application the boot for its own homegrown solution.

Street View, transit directions, walking directions, traffic data, and restaurant reviews (provided by Zagat) are all included. And in case you were wondering, yes, turn-by-turn navigation is front in center in the new Google Maps iOS app.

For users of Android smartphones, none of this stuff is really news to you -- you've been enjoying such functionality for years. However, for Apple customers that have complained about Apple's native Maps app, you now can install an alternative that appears to be better in nearly every way.

quote: Over half of Google's revenue from mobile services (advertising, search, maps) comes from iOS, despite there being more Android devices out there.

I believe the nation as the largest consumer of Apple devices is the U.S. which if you are correct about Google's revenue would account for the higher numbers.I don't know how much penetration Google Ads have had globally which is where the bulk of Android devices live, but for the future it may prove a very very smart move.

This is global. It follows given that global web traffic and app usage is also primarily iOS. This is partly because the Android installation base is highly inflated by dumbphones, featurephones, and cheap smartphones, none of which get the same sort of use that a proper smartphone for. Meanwhile iOS is only running on high end smartphones and tablets.

Either way, it is in Android's best financial interests to take care of both their own platform (because it is their own) and iOS (because it makes lots of money).

quote: Google Apps product management director Clay Bavor said that "we have no plans to build out Windows apps." Bavor had some harsh words about the installed base for Windows on both the PC and on mobile, saying "we are very careful about where we invest and will go where the users are but they are not on Windows Phone or Windows 8."

Like I said, Google is a business and they're going to go where the money is.

On a side note, the Google Maps mobile web app is actually pretty darn good, so anyone on WP8 should bookmark that.